Is the Paranormal a Male-Oriented Pursuit?

[Gene Steinberg]

I know that both men and women have unusual experiences and are interested in the subjects we deal with, but our demographics (at least based on those of you who are gracious enough to fill in our surveys), so a heavy male orientation for The Paracast.

That makes me curious: Is our aggressive, hard-hitting approach more a characteristic of the male of the species, and does it turn off women? Or is that suggestion itself sexist?

What do you think, listeners?

 

[CapnG]

Interesting question, Gene. I don't have any solid thoughts on the subject but off-the-top-of-my-head I'd have to say that "conquest" is a heavily masculine impulse, both biologically and societaly. The paranormal represents the ultimate unknown in a universe of unknowns and so would certainly attract males from a "these questions need to be answered" point of view.

That said, it's certainly true that most of the women I know who have had some sort of paranormal experience are alot more open to it and (perhaps as a consequence) are alot more keenly aware of it than comparable men and certainly men in general. Perhaps then it because of this that women are more content to simply "live with" the paranormal, whereas we men are contantly out to "solve" it...

 

[Siani]

I'm a woman (well, I was last time I checked) and it's the hard-hitting, aggressive approach that attracts me to The Paracast. Then again, I'm a tough old boot, and can't stand all that touchy-feely, angels and benevolent space brothers crap seen elsewhere. Pass the sick bag!

I don't think you're being sexist, Gene. In fact, I feel you're on to something. But I have a feeling that it may be content, rather than method of delivery, that's determining the demographics. If my female friends are anything to go by, a lot of women seem to be attracted to subjects such as spiritualism, mediums, angels, channeling, clairvoyancy, contactees, etc. The Paracast doesn't give much time to these subjects - mercifully. Other than that, I can't think of anything.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Well, there are a lot of topics we haven't covered yet, but we haven't put a gender label on them.

 

[Ally]

I am a female also. I thought your hard hitting approach was a response to a field that is so saturated with BS. I never saw this approach as too masculine. I think it is about time that some of these people in the field get questioned and put to the paracast test.

 

[ArizonaWill]

I would think any person with an interest in the paranormal would welcome your intelligent critical approach, regardless of gender. Afterall, anyone who does NOT like such an approach has George Noory, correct? So if the question is whether you would be more popular if you were to back-off and become like George Noory, I would say no. To me this has nothing to do with gender, but basic intelligence and sincere interest in the topic, versus just seeing it as late night "bogeyman" entertainment. Certainly that is not your approach. If perhaps you have to meld yourselves into such a "product" in order to sell the Paracast to commercial radio, so be it. I just will no longer be listening - what would be the point?

Note: Some of the hard hitting reporters in Los Angeles TV are females. To suggest that females prefer things to be all "nice" and sweet is a bit of an insult (rather Victorian and antiquated). I work with women in the corporate world of software development, and (trust me!) they can go for the jugular just as fast as any man in terms of competition and personal interest!! In fact, I've opened the door for a few females at work and received a dirty look in response! They can be very quick to equate human consideration for sexist condescension. So I give no quarter to women at work.

 

[Brian Now]

But I have a feeling that it may be content, rather than method of delivery, that's determining the demographics. If my female friends are anything to go by, a lot of women seem to be attracted to subjects such as spiritualism, mediums, angels, channeling, clairvoyancy, contactees, etc.

I think that's exactly the difference...the content. The UFO/extraterrestrial field attracts more men with all its talk about technology, conspiracies and intrigue. It's a subject that seems to require a lot of logic and stereotypically male thought patterns. The downside is that the UFO field gives a lot of men a forum to be a bad-ass and do the whole look-what-I-know thing which guys just looovvvve to do.

I used to volunteer at a non-profit, sort of new age center. Most of the classes were on the subjects Siani mentioned above. Audiences were almost completely female. The good part about it was the stereotypical female pattern of being open to new feelings and ideas. The bad part was that there was very, very little rational though going on there...it seemed if you felt something to be true then it simply was.

I know that thinking, independent-minded people of bothr genders won't fit neatly into these groups, and I know that the paranormal field attracts extremes...but most people are pretty predictable.

 

[ArizonaWill]

I would like to think (optimist?) that the women who are attracted to the "if I feel it, it must be truth" and the entire New Age woo woo stuff are a SUBSET of women in general, and do not necessarily reflect on the entire gender. I also attend a church, and this church offers classes at night in traditional Bible interpretation along with more progressive topics like Reiki energy training, Prosperity Thinking (the power of thought), and meditation. While most of the participants are women, they are a small subset of the women in the church, much less women in the larger community.

In essence, the contra-argument is basically that women generally do not think logically, which reminds me of something Henry Higgins might say in MY FAIR LADY, a product of Edwardian England!! Is this really what the Paracast male clientele think? It has not been my experience, but then maybe I just don't notice or attract bimbo's. Afterall, I live in the same town as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and have met neither of them.

 

[fitzbew88]

Is our aggressive, hard-hitting approach more a characteristic of the male of the species, and does it turn off women?

I'm a male, with thirteen years of marital bliss accomplished.

As far as I can tell, just being a woman is a paranormal experience. So they probably see no need for study.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

I live in the same town as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and have met neither of them.

You must feel lucky. I would.

 

[ArizonaWill]

I live in the same town as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and have met neither of them.

You must feel lucky. I would.

Yeah, especially Britney. She seems to meet many men by smashing into them with her Mercedes convertible on local freeways. Chris Rock can have her (or I guess it is now Mel Gibson?!?! What is THAT all about?). Paris and I are around the same age, but I cannot help but think she had some very poor parenting, to turn out to be such an emblem for early 21st century "trailer trash". Wasn't there a time the ultra-rich sent their kids to finishing school, not porn distributers? Call me old fashioned....

 

[Brian Now]

In essence, the contra-argument is basically that women generally do not think logically,

Errr, going along with that line then we could say the contra-argument for men would be that they don't feel? Did you used to post as ArizonaWill by the way?

 

[ArizonaWill]

In essence, the contra-argument is basically that women generally do not think logically,

Errr, going along with that line then we could say the contra-argument for men would be that they don't feel? Did you used to post as ArizonaWill by the way?

No. This is the only place I post on the internet. Frankly, the reason I'm even here is because I'm downloading some of the shows to CD so my girlfriend can listen to them - she's leaving next week to drive home to Montana to supposedly stop her parents from killing each other. Talk about the land of guns. She hopes to come back with one of them in tow, which means I have to wear clothes at her apartment.

While the show (or some show from C2C) downloads to CD, I pop in here to post. Once that project ends, I'm probably outa here. I like the show but the forum is dullsville (no offense to anyone personally).

 

[lotusland]

I'm female and have been interested in the paranormal since I was 8. I read everything I could as a child about sasquatches, lake monsters, ancient Egypt, magic and ghosts (my interest in UFOs and their occupants came later). I even scanned the TV guide each week for documentaries on these subjects. Very geeky kid.

I can't think of one of my female friends who shares these interests. Come to think of it, none of my male friends do either. They either have zero interest or are completely skeptical about it.

As for Gene's question about the show's format, it has no bearing on my decision to listen whatsoever. I am interested in the topics covered, the guests, the questions posed, and how well the hosts know their subject matter. Style and format are not even remote concerns to me. I am only interested in an intelligent, balanced discussion about these topics. And that's what I get when I tune in each week.

 

[digigeek]

Afterall, I live in the same town as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, and have met neither of them.

And you call yourself a Paranormal Enthusiast?! Dude, they're about as paranormal as it gets. You should be studying them intently.

 

[Poi]

Girl here. Well, in my heart. Woman in fact with some girly tendencies, thank goodness.

My favorite girlfriends growing up were the ones who, like I, were interested in the paranormal. I can count them on one finger and she's stopped questioning and has turned to the church. That's a real disappointment. It was her mom who got us interested though.

I think the difference is that women tend to downplay their aggression or channel it into projects that will give them concrete results. I'd love to say they wouldn't be offended by a hard hitting approach to any subject, but personal experience tells me that if people want to be offended, they'll find something offensive. That's human, not specifically female as evidenced by the trolls who attack here. They sound like guys to me and seem to have guy-like avatars. Just a guess since it's so easy to hide things online.

Anyway, there's a lack of women who are even interested. Woe is us.

 

[Raevenskye]

As far as I can tell, just being a woman is a paranormal experience.

hehe...sometimes, it is indeed! Although I tend to take my own experiences at face value most of the time, it doesn't mean that I'm not searching for concrete answers. What I may accept as a personal truth is not proof or evidence of the paranormal, and I can become very scientific about the subject. I don't discuss most of the gory details with friends...they think I'm crazy enough, and the handful of female friends I have just aren't that interested.
Although I'm pretty touchy-feely (you'd think I'd be more popular! hehe), I don't want to hear about the cosmic brotherhood either!

 

[EERIE]

Can you put up a poll for this? That would be interesting to see from the Paracast group anyway.

 

[cindysue]

I have to agree with some of the other women posters. I am a woman and know of no other women who have an interest in the paranormal other than in spiritual, new agey ways. I brought up the topic of UFOs in a group of women the other day and was shot down mostly by fundamentalist Christians who said it wasn't in the Bible, therefore they don't believe in UFOs or aliens, etc. The other women said that there could be life out there but who cares, they've got bills to pay. Usually I mention nothing of my interests for fear of ridicule. My interest in quantum physics alone causes my friends to call me a geek and make jokes.
Just my 2 cents....

~Cindysue

 

[Poi]

I've had the same reaction when trying to introduce what little I understand about quantum physics. To tell the truth, men borrow my books on the subject. Women look at me like I've got the plague.

Oddly enough, my friend who turned to the church was named Cindy. LOL

Welcome, Cindy!